Central Bank “regrets” editing James Joyce for new commemorative coin

A new €10 coin issued by Ireland’s Central Bank in order to commemorate famous Irish author James Joyce.
Photo by: TheJournal.ie

A new €10 coin issued by Ireland’s Central Bank in order to commemorate famous Irish author James Joyce is drawing some criticism after an extra word was erroneously added to the Joyce quote.

The coin features a picture of Joyce and three sentences from his famous 1922 work ‘Ulysses.’ In the original text, the lines are supposed to read, "Ineluctable modality of the visible: at least that if no more, thought through my eyes. Signatures of all things I am here to read."

However, in making the commemorative coin, Central Bank erroneously added the word “that” to the third sentence - "Ineluctable modality of the visible: at least that if no more, thought through my eyes. Signatures of all things that I am here to read."

The coin is now being sold for €46 through the Central Bank in Dublin on Dame Street. As the coin is a limited edition, only 10,000 will be minted.

A statement read, "The Central Bank acknowledges that the text on the Joyce coin does not correspond to the precise text as it appears in Ulysses ... While the error is regretted, it should be noted that the coin is an artistic representation of the author and text and not intended as a literal representation."

"The coin will continue to be available for purchase. Anyone purchasing the coin will be informed as to the error in the text. Anyone who may already have purchased the coin and wishes to return it will be facilitated with a full refund."